The Twenty-fourth South Carolina, Lieutenant-Colonel Capers, five companies of the Forty-sixth Georgia, Capt. T. B. Hancock, of Gist's brigade, with the Fourteenth Mississippi and Capt. J. A. Hoskins' battery of four pieces, were ordered out at daylight on the 14th, under Colonel Colquitt, to take position on the Clinton road, at a point to be designated by Brig.-Gen. John Gregg. General Gregg selected a good position on a ridge about 3 miles from Jackson, assisted Colquitt in arranging his defense, and left him with orders to hold the enemy until ordered to retire through Jackson. The Georgians (five companies) and the Mississippi battalion were posted on the right of the road, and the Twenty-fourth and Hoskins' battery on the left. The position was at Wright's farm, the command being on the right and left of his house. The Twenty-fourth was advanced some distance to take advantage of a garden fence, and the artillery placed in battery on the crown of the hill, one gun behind the Twenty-fourth, in support, and three at the main road. This little brigade, which did not number over 900 men and officers, was attacked at 9 a. m. by the Seventh division of the Seventeenth army corps, composed of three brigades with four light batteries, and held its position until 2 p. m. before it was forced to retire.
The enemy's official reports give his losses as follows: Second brigade 215, Third brigade 37, Fourth brigade 13; total in division, 265, exclusive of artillery. In defending this position Colquitt's little brigade of two battalions, one regiment and four guns lost 198 men and officers, killed, wounded and captured. The heaviest loss was in the Twenty-fourth South Carolina, which held its position longest and lost 105 men and officers. Lieutenant-Colonel Capers was wounded, and Lieut. A. F. Cunningham, of Company F, was killed. On the enemy's part their main loss was in the center brigade, which made the direct attack in front.
The fighting in the final assault, which carried the position and forced a retreat on Jackson, is described as follows by the commander of the Tenth Missouri, which, with the Seventeenth Iowa, Eightieth Ohio, Thirty-sixth Illinois, and Company E, of the Twenty-fourth Missouri, made up the Second brigade:
Colonel Holmes, commanding the brigade, now ordered bayonets fixed and a charge made upon the enemy. The troops moved forward at double-quick, cheering wildly, driving in first the skirmishers, and then the main line, passing over about 500 yards under a terrific fire of shell, canister and musketry to the house of O. P. Wright, in and behind which, and the hedges, fences and trees surrounding it, the rebels were hidden and protected. Here ensued an almost hand-to-hand conflict, with the Twenty-fourth regiment South Carolina volunteers. The Tenth Missouri suffered severely from the stream of fire which issued from behind every object which could furnish protection to the enemy. We succeeded finally in dislodging them and driving them some 200 yards to the left [enemy's left] and toward the main road to Jackson. Reforming our line, a section of the Sixth Wisconsin battery was rapidly brought upon the field....
But the Twenty-fourth, now under Major Appleby, had followed the remainder of the brigade in retreat, and joined General Johnston's little army moving out from Jackson on the Canton road. In the fight above described, the attack on the Georgia and Mississippi battalions was made principally by the Iowa and Ohio regiments, and was well sustained by the Georgians and Mississippians. The conduct of Captain Hoskins' battery was beyond praise. But for the service of his four guns, the position could not have been held two hours against the attack of the Federal division. Writing to General Beauregard from Canton, on the 25th of May, General Gist said:
None of the troops from your department reached Jackson in time for the affair at Raymond, and only two regiments of Gen. W. H. T. Walker's brigade, Martin's battery, Twenty-fourth South Carolina, five companies of the Forty-sixth Georgia, and Eighth Georgia battalion arrived in time to participate in the skirmish and evacuation of the city. I got within 6 miles, and was ordered back by General Johnston with remainder of Walker's and my own brigade.... The only troops of my brigade engaged at Jackson were those mentioned above, and all officers join in awarding them highest praise for soldierly conduct and gallantry. The Twenty-fourth regiment South Carolina volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Capers commanding, particularly distinguished themselves. [War Records, Vol. XXIV, Pt. III, p. 919.]
General Walker's troops were not engaged in the battle at Wright's house. The Eighth Georgia battalion of Gist's brigade arrived in Jackson by train on the morning of the 14th, too late to take part with the Twenty-fourth South Carolina and the Forty-sixth Georgia.
Looking back upon the event and reflecting on the performance of the little brigade at Wright's house, it seems almost ludicrous to read in the report of Major-General McPherson, commanding the Seventeenth army corps, an account of the formidable disposition he made to attack it. Erroneously stating that he found the enemy "posted in strong force under Gen. W. H. T. Walker," he continues:
The position of the enemy was carefully reconnoitered, and Lieut. J. W. McMurray's battery, Parrott guns, brought up to reply to their artillery, which had already opened on our lines. While the dispositions for the attack were being made, a very heavy shower set in which delayed the attack an hour and a half, the rain coming down in such torrents that there was great danger of the ammunition being spoiled if the men opened their cartridge boxes. The time, however, was well employed in putting the men in position, and bringing up Logan's division as a reserve. The enemy occupied a semi-circular ridge, stretching across the main road, his right holding a piece of woods, and his center and left commanding rolling ground in his front, over which it would be necessary to pass to attack him. Two [only one, Hoskins'] batteries were in position, one covering the road and the other near his left, having a good range across the open field. The disposition of my troops was as follows: Boomer's brigade on the left of the road in the timber; Holmes' brigade on his right, in the open fields; Sanborn's brigade on the right of Holmes, with skirmishers well out on his flank; John E. Smith's brigade, Logan's division, in the woods in rear of Boomer, about 400 yards, in column of regiments as a reserve; Stevenson's brigade across a ravine on Boomer's left, with directions to advance and gain a road which entered the city from the northwest; Dennis' brigade remained a short distance in the rear to guard the trains.
Six brigades arrayed in battle by the accomplished General McPherson, against two battalions, one regiment, and a battery of four guns!